Back for seats



Jan. 18, 1.949. H, C, FLlNT 2,459,758

BACK FOR SEATS Filed July 10], 1946 algal ffm iVENTQ R HYLAND c. FLINT ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT oFfI-'i BACK FOB SEATS Hyland C. Flint, Akron, Ohio, assigner to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation oi' Ohio Application July 10, 1948, Serial No. 682,68*!

l 3 Claims.

This invention relates to backs for seats, and more especially it relates to seat backs of the diaphragm type whereof'the back-rest is supported solely by a rigid marginal frame.

The invention is of especial utility in situations where space is at a premium, as in buses and street cars. By means -of the invention it is possible to obtain, in a relatively thin seat back. a soft resilience that is impossible to be attained in seat backs that employ an upholstered sheet metal back-pan.

'I'he chief objects of the invention are to provide a seat back that is relatively thin so as to conserve space; that is comfortable in use; and which has regions of differential resilience so as to provide greater support to local areas of ently to be explained. In cases where the seatthe back of the seat-occupant. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a seat back embodying the invention, a part thereof being broken away to reveal underlying structure; and Fig. 2 is a section, on a larger scale, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing-there is shown a seat back that comprises a rigid, open, metal frame III, and a resilient, diaphragm-like structure, designated as a whole by the numeral II, that is supported by said frame, the latter having engagement with the margin of said structure I I.

The structure II consists essentially of a plurality of fiat spring units I3, I3 arranged in parallelism transversely of the structure, and respective layers of resilient composition on opposite sides of said springs. 'I'he spring units I3 are of the same general type as the springs of the Kaden Reissue Patent No. 21,263, dated November 14, 1939. Each of said spring units consists of a transversely at structure made up of a single spring wire bent into a longitudinal succession of undulations or sinuosities. The spring unit diilers from that of the Kaden patent aforementioned in that it is tempered while in longitudinally iat condition, and for this reason has no arcuate permanent set. The spring units I3 are retained in determinate position by being conned between two plies of textile fabric I5, I6 of which ply I5 is in front of the spring units and ply I6 is behind the same. The confronting faces of the textile plies I5, I6 are treated with suitable adhesive, preferably comprising rubber, and adhere to the wires of the spring units I3, and to each other between said wires, with the result that the spring units are restrained aga-inst movement relatively of each other. The fabric most. I

To enhance the comfort of the seat-back, localv back tapers somewhat in width toward the top thereof, as shown herein, the length of the spring units I3 will diminish accordingly in successive units from the lowest unit to that which is upperregions thereof may have greater rmness than other regions thereof. To this end the spring units I3 are provided in wire of different gauges, the units at the bottom of the back being composed of heavier and stiffer wire than the remainder of the units. For example, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown herein, the wire of the four lowermost units is 9 gauge (.148" dia.), whereas the wire oi' the remaining units is 11 gauge (.120" dia.). Obviously the gauge of the wire and the arrangement of the spring units may be varied to suit dierent conditions.

Bonded to the front textile ply I5 is a flat layer I8 of molded cellular-or foam rubber composition, and bonded to the rear textile ply I6 is a layer I9 of similar foam rubber composition. The layers I8, I9 are of the same shape and area. Both layers I8 and I9 are relatively thin as compared to the padding of conventional seat backs, the layer I8 being about 3A inch thick and the layer I9 being about A inch thick.

Bonded to the back of layer I9, along the top and lateral margins thereof is a vulcanized rubber strip 22 that facilitates attaching of the seat back to the supporting structure I 0. The latter may be of a metal channel as shown, or it may be an angle iron. The strip 22 is formed with a rearwardly opening longitudinally extending recess 24 in which a flange of the channel is received, and has a rib-like portion 25 arranged to t between the anges of the channel. The attaching strip V22 is of suilicient Width to provide adequate area of attachment to the layer I9. Adhered to the latter is a back cover 26 of textile fabric, the marginal portion of which overlaps and conceals a portion of the attaching strip 22.

The resilient diaphragm portion II of the seat back is securely connected to the supporting channel I0 by means of the marginal portions of fabric ply I5 that project laterally of the diaphragm structure, said projecting portions being designated 28. Said portions 28 are brought around back of the channel III, as shown, and

3 attached to the back cover by being adhered thereto, or in any other-,suitable manner.

It will be understood that the structure described may be covered with any suitable upholstery material (not shown). ln view of the conditions of service of the seat.

The invention provides a seat back that readily shapes itself to the back of a seat-occupant, that is relatively thin so as to be available for use in situations where space is at a premium, and which ing strip being so shaped as to elect interiittinl with the said supporting frame.

2. A combination as denned in claim 1 whereof one of the plies oi textile fabric has marginal portions projecting beyond the lateral margins of the diaphragm structure. said projecting portions adapted for securing .the diaphragm structure vto the supporting frame. v

achieves the other advantages set out in the forephragm structure comprising a plurality of par@ allel, transversely extending flat spring units that are free at both ends, plies of textile fabric arranged on opposite sides of the spring umts and bonded to the latter and to each other to maintain said spring units fixedly in determinate relation to each other,r and layers of resilient foam rubber composition bondedto the respective plies of textile fabric. said diaphragm-like structure including a molded rubber attaching'strip bonded to its rear face at the margin thereof. said mount- 3. In a seat back o f the class described, including a marginal metal support frame. a resilient diaphragm-like structure comprising a series of transversely arranged fiat wire springs in sinuous form that are free at both ends, opposed plies of rubberized textile fabric arranged on opposite sides o! said springs and being bonded to the latter and to each other, said diaphragmlike structure being supported on said frame by the sole means 'of at least one ply of said fabric attached to said frame.

HYLAND c. FmN'r.

mar-umarzclasv crrnn yThe following references are of record in the ile of this patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date Name 122,798 Bigen Jan. 16, 1872 1,206,073 Young Nov. 28, 1916 30 2,163,359 Van Derveer June 20, 1939 2,281,341 Turner Apr. 28, 1942 

